Brenda Cortes, a Kansas City-based Content Creator and Influencer, has been creating content for local businesses since 2022. With a presence on both TikTok and Instagram, she has grown her following to over 27,000+ followers. Cortes' work centers on forging partnerships that empower small businesses and brands to draw in customers by showcasing their unique qualities through engaging videos and photography. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia, Cortes holds a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communications. When Cortes is not content creating, you can find her enjoying traveling, yoga, and meeting people out in the world!

Lauran has 18+ years experience in client services spanning across sales leadership, account management, digital media and analytics. She currently leads the Dining, Auto, and Travel business for TikTok. Prior to TikTok, Lauran spent 10 years at Twitter in multiple roles from strategy to account management to sales leadership across a wide variety of verticals, with a speciality in CPG, in the Austin, Los Angeles and Australia offices. Lauran's early career was on the agency side at WCG where she led digital, social and analytics strategy as well as Porter Novelli, an international PR agency, where she specialized in client relations, creative and strategic planning. Lauran graduated with a degree in Business from The University of Texas at Austin. She enjoys traveling and spending any free time with her husband and 9 month old son, Gage.

Brad Haley has been CMO for Dave’s Hot Chicken since 12/22 after consulting for the brand the previous year. In his role as CMO, Brad is responsible for all aspects of marketing, advertising, guest insights, and PR for the almost 200-unit chain. Prior to joining Dave’s, Brad served as CMO for IHOP, where he most notably led the IHOb (International House of Burgers) activation that generated global attention for the brand. His earlier career included marketing leadership roles at CKE (Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants) and Jack in the Box. Brad has been named one of the top 50 Power Players in the communications field by PRWeek, one of the 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs by Entrepreneur Magazine, and one of the Adweek 50, celebrating innovative leaders for blazing new trails and achieving the best results.